Chapter Text
Chapter 1
The Platanians
James T. Kirk loved danger. As much as he hated to admit it, he really did. There was something about the feeling of adrenaline coursing through his veins that brought him a strange joy most would hate. . Maybe it was because Jim was always running from something and living dangerously (even in his youth); but whatever it was, the feeling of danger was like a drug. He didn't necessarily like being harmed, per se, and he would prefer it if the danger didn't cause him any bodily harm. However, trouble just found him naturally, and he didn't necessarily hate it.
This was why Jim was not surprised in the slightest that he was currently tied to a chair, bloodied and battered with three alien creatures observing his every move.
"Captain Kirk. Please, just tell us the codes to your ship." The lead alien spoke, his blue fish gills fluctuating as he talked. He was the leader of the group, or at least Jim thought he was.
"I said it before, and I'll say it again." Jim smiled devilishly, flashing his bloody teeth as he spoke, "Bite me, jackass."
8 Hours Earlier
"Captain, your requested landing party is waiting for you down in the transporter room." Lieutenant Uhura swiveled around in her chair to face her captain, who sat lax in his command chair. At the sound of her voice, he perked up and turned his head over his shoulder, his blue eyes bright like a child on Christmas morning. The Communications Officer almost snorted. Jim always had this excited look in his eye when he was about to go planetside on a mission, regardless of the fact that he always ended up getting into some type of trouble. Sometimes Uhura really thought her captain was a masochist.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Commander, you have the conn." Jim bounced up out of his chair and turned on his heel, just about to enter the turbolift when a solid blue mass blocked his view.
"Captain." Spock's smooth Vulcan voice rang through Jim's ears; a friendly reminder of the fact that the Vulcan didn't like being left behind, "I request a spot on the landing party."
Jim rolled his eyes and took a step to the right, sliding by the Vulcan wall Spock had tried to create. He patted Spock's shoulder, giving him a short grin. "Of course you do." He then walked into the turbolift, internally groaning as Spock followed him in like the stubborn First Officer he was.
"May I ask why you are denying my request?" Jim watched the small crease form between Spock's eyebrows as he stared at his captain. Jim sighed, turning towards him once the turbolift doors closed.
"Because, Spock, there is no need for both of us to go down. This is simply a routine check-up. The Platanians have been members of the Federation for decades, and we're simply here to make sure everything is running smoothly after the political revolution that occurred a few years ago on the planet. There's no need for both of us to go." Jim tried to smile reassuringly at his First Officer, but the crease only became more prominent.
"The political unrest in the past two years is one of the reasons I should accompany you, Captain. Although the Platanians are known to be civil and passive, they have shown their violent capabilities through the political uprising that occurred two years ago. The possibility of the civilization still feeling the aftereffects of such a catastrophic and straining event is very likely. I am afraid that-"
"Well, Mr. Spock," Jim chuckled, shaking his head as he looked up at his First Officer with amusement. "If I didn't know any better, it sounds like you're worried about me."
"It is only logical that I, as your First Officer, analyze any problems that are likely to occur while you are planetside. I would also like to point out that I may be a better candidate to beam down as since I am your First Officer, I am more expendable if something does go-"
"Spock, I swear to God, if you talk about how my life is more important than any of the over 400 people on this ship, I'm going to rip your damn ears off." Jim quirked an eyebrow, observing how Spock slowly closed his mouth. "I understand your concern, and I appreciate it, but I'm going to beam down with the landing party and you're going to sit in the captain's chair and be happy about it, got it?" The turbolift doors opened with a hiss as Jim nudged Spock's arm. "You can get a pretty good view of Uhura from there, you know."
Jim didn't wait to hear Spock's response as he began to walk hastily down the corridors. Although he was smiling, he felt a strange twinge in his heart at the last comment he made. Spock and Uhura had been dating for more than a year now, but Jim still wasn't used to it. He still felt his stomach churn uncomfortably when he saw the two sitting together during meals. He still felt his heart stutter in his chest when Spock stands at Uhura's station and talks quietly with her. Jim still feels nauseous when he sees the two casually touch fingers under the table in the mess hall.
Yes, Jim knew that it was a Vulcan kiss. Ambassador Spock had told him so when Jim ranted to him about it one night. Over the past few months, Jim had been calling the Ambassador a lot more and giving him the rundown of almost everything that was happening. He wouldn't say he was like his therapist, but he kinda was. While Jim rambled on about how Spock declined his offer to play chess because he had a lab report to do, the Ambassador would just watch him with his warm and comforting gaze. A gaze that made sure Jim knew he was loved.
Maybe he was so attached to the guy because whenever the Ambassador looked at him, he felt like he was his entire world. Hell, Jim probably was. In a whole new timeline with new people and new faces, Jim was really the one constant the old Vulcan had. Or at least, that was what he told Jim. So, naturally, Jim flocked to the old guy like a lost sheep because he knows that no matter what happened with his own Spock, the old Spock would always love him.
"Jim! God, do I have to give you a hearing aid or something?" Jim was torn out of his thoughts at the sound of his favorite crabby old country doctor behind him. He turned around and saw Bones approaching him with a tricorder and a hypospray in hand. Honestly, Jim wouldn't be surprised if Bones always had those two things in his hands wherever he went. "I called your name like four times and you just kept walking. You can't ignore me that easy, kid."
"Believe me, I know," Jim smirked, getting a huff from Bones.
As Bones went full-on mother hen on Jim and started listing off all the things he could be allergic to planetside, Jim began to mentally prepare himself for what was ahead. Even though this was a routine check-up, he still had to be all proper and diplomatic (the one thing Jim hated about his job). It was much easier when he had Spock by his side because the Vulcan practically radiated formality, but Jim would be alright this time. He couldn't rely on his First Officer for everything, no matter how much he wanted to.
Soon, Jim was standing up on the transporter pad with three security officers beside him (Lieutenant Jones, Dylan, and Pietro), ready to beam down. Bones stood next to Scotty behind the controls, his arms folded as usual with his signature scowl plastered on his face. Bones was the definition of a resting bitch face at this point.
"I swear to God Jim, if you come back with even a damn paper cut, I'm locking you in your quarters for a week."
"Don't be silly, Bones. What's the worst that could happen?"
Apparently, a lot could happen that would be considered the 'worst' and, of course, Jim was caught right in the cross-fire.
As soon as they beamed down, Jim heard the sound of an arrow whizzing past his head before it abruptly stabbed right through the wooden cottage behind him. Within seconds, Jim yelled for everyone to duck and cover as he whipped out his phaser. He dove behind the nearest barrel, thankful that they beamed down in the center of the village where a lot of cover was accessible. However, he was immediately unthankful when he heard something fall behind him.
Jim turned around and watched as Lieutenant Pietro toppled sideways, an arrow wedged right in his chest. The captain reached out and grabbed him before he fell completely, cursing under his breath. Jones and Dylan were safely behind the other barrels to his right, but apparently, Pietro wasn't fast enough.
Jim quickly flipped open his communicator, holding Pietro close to his chest.
"Enterprise. Come in Enterprise." Jim yelled, wincing at the sound of blasts coming from his right. From the small window of time he had before he had ducked, he saw what looked like an all-out war. People with guns, bows, and arrows, and knives chasing each other and shooting each other. It was absolute chaos. Apparently, the political uprising hadn't ended as the Federation had thought.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, Jim heard Uhura come through his comm. "Enterprise here. Captain? Is everything alright? We had difficulties responding to you."
"Everything is not alright. Lieutenant Pietro-" Jim jumped as he heard another thump and a scream come from his right. He turned, staring in horror as Dylan fell backward from trying to shoot over the barrel, an arrow sticking right between his eyes. Lieutenant Jones screamed in terror, scrambling away to prevent him from falling onto her lap. "Shit. Uhura, we need automatic beam up right now." He barked. After hearing silence from the other line, he felt fear grab at him. "Lieutenant?" He looked down and pressed his fingers to Pietro's neck, feeling his heart clench at the stillness of his pulse.
"Kirk to Enterprise, come in Enterprise! I need immediate beam up!" Jim repeated, knowing full well that their hiding spot behind literal barrels was not going to last them.
Uhura's voice came back. "Captain, we're having trouble locking onto your coordinates. There seems to be interference-" There was the sound of shuffling over the comm before a deep voice came over the comm.
"Captain, what has happened?"
"We beamed down right into a damn battlefield, that's what! Pietro got shot and Dylan just did too-" Jim stopped again, hearing Jones yell again from her position to his right. He turned around in horror yet again as three aliens jumped her, shoving a blade right through her torso with a painful squish. Jim lept up just as the alien's gaze snapped to him before he took off right into the center of town. "Shit! Fuck! GOD DAMNIT!" Jim yelled, running blindly through the chaos that was the center of town. He quickly turned down an alleyway, just now hearing the voices echoing from his communicator.
"-tain? Are you alright? What-"
"The whole landing party is now dead except for me, Spock, so you tell me if I'm alright!" Jim barked angrily, glancing over his shoulder just to see the three aliens chasing after him. He cursed yet again. "And by the looks of it, I might be fucking joining them!"
"Captain, we're trying to locate your signal, but-"
"I don't want your damn excuses, Spock! Just get me the hell out of here!" Deep inside him, he knew he was being unfair. It wasn't Spock's fault that Jim was stuck in a damn warzone. Hell, Spock was the one who warned him of something like this planetside.
Suddenly, Jim felt a flare of pain fly through his leg, causing him to trip over himself and fall to the ground with a short-lived scream. He did one take behind him, taking in the arrow that was jabbed right through his calf before he grabbed at his communicator.
"Captain? Captain? Please respond. We-"
"Spock, listen to me. I am expendable. The ship is not. So please- mmph!" A hand wrapped around his mouth before he could finish as another set of hands grabbed his arms and wrapped them painfully behind his back. He whipped his head around, trying to shake the hand around his mouth, but they held on firmly. Jim was aware of the 'Captain? Captain!' calls coming from his communicator. Finally, Jim resorted to the thing that always got him away from Frank.
He reached forward with his teeth and snagged some skin with his teeth, biting down as hard as he could. With a yowl, the alien removed his hand, allowing Jim a few moments. He thrashed again, wriggling his wrists around even though he could feel the tightness of the rope biting into his skin. Even his feet were wrapped firmly together.
"Get your slimy claws off me, you blue-skinned, scaly, gilled freaks! Spo-" Jim hoped that his discreet description of his attackers was heard over the comm before his other friend had returned his hand to Jim's mouth but also had something else waiting for him. He heard the hiss of a hypospray within his neck, making him woozy in a matter of seconds. Spock's panicked voice became muffled, almost like Jim was underwater. All he really remembered was the feeling of someone picking him up and tossing him over his shoulders before he let his head hang and succumbed to the darkness calling him.
The next time Jim woke, he couldn't see anything. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of his current location, but after a few minutes of blinking, he started to assess his surroundings. He was sitting in a dark room that looked almost like a cell with a single door on the wall in front of him to the right. He looked down at himself, taking in the metal chair he was sitting in. His arms were restrained behind his back so tightly that his fingers were starting to get that prickly sensation. Even his legs were tied together and strapped to one of the chair legs, practically immobilizing him.
Great.
This was fantastic.
To make matters worse, he didn't have time to even test the strength of his bonds before the door opened with a slight creek, revealing those same three aliens from before. Now that Jim could get a good look at them, he noticed that they didn't exactly look like your typical Platanians. Platanians were green-skinned with usually large flowing locks of red hair and long elven ears. However, these aliens were the exact opposite. Blue-skinned with scales and fish gills, along with a tail that looked almost identical to a dolphin's tail. Even their eyes were a deep shade of dark blue with no pupils. Overall, they looked like they belonged in the sea.
"Alright, let's get this over with. If this is a ransom or something, believe me, I-" Jim flinched in surprise as he felt a hand slap him across the face.
"We do the talking. You shut up." The largest one growled, balling his webbed hands into fists. Jim smirked, letting his ego get the best of him at the worst of times.
"I don't know if you know me, but shutting me up isn't that easy." He grinned as the alien snarled at him. It sounded like a damn bear.
"Then we will make you shut up. After you tell us the codes to your ship." He demanded. Jim was acutely aware of one of the lead alien's buddies making his way to stand behind him, causing Jim to sit up straighter in the chair. He clenched his own hands behind his back.
"Bite me."
It was one of Jim's favorite things to say when he was facing danger, but it always had the same outcome. He always got the shit beat out of him. After all, he was challenging them with the whole 'bite me' statement, so he couldn't exactly complain. Jim just liked the feeling of staying extremely pompous and confident in the faces of his captors. James T. Kirk wasn't known to be a badass for no reason.
It seemed like hours went by of punch after punch, slice after slice. At one point the alien even started to strangle him (jokes on him, Jim's got a kink for that!), but no matter how exhausted Kirk was, he didn't budge at all. After one extremely hard punch to his left cheek, snapping his head to the side, the alien stepped back. He rubbed his knuckles, coated with Jim's blood as he glared down at him.
"Captain Kirk. Please, just tell us the codes to your ship." The lead alien spoke, his blue fish gills fluctuating as he talked.
"I said it before, and I'll say it again." Jim smiled devilishly, flashing his bloody teeth as he spoke, "Bite me, jackass."
At those words, the alien's gills flared with anger as he whipped to his partner next to him. The two gave each other a certain look, communicating silently to each other before he turned to the alien behind Jim. Kirk furrowed his eyebrows before he felt the alien behind him wrap something around his mouth. What in the hell-
The lead alien rushed him and jabbed a dagger right into Jim's chest.
Look, Jim had a great pain tolerance. He could handle a lot of things and remain calm. However, the flashing white pain that just erupted in his body due to the sharp dagger penetrating his chest was enough to finally break him. He screamed bloody murder, finally realizing why they covered his mouth as it was a little quieter muffled. However, it still rang through the cell, almost like a siren.
And apparently, it also acted as a distress call as after only a few seconds of Jim screaming, the door was practically ripped off its hinges. And not by phaser fire. No. Jim could just barely see two hands rip the door open and throw it against the wall with such violence Jim didn't know whether he should be scared of that too.
"Prah ish-veh el'ru ska' t' ish-veh!" A deep voice boomed through the cell, making Jim's heart leap in his chest. He knew that voice from anywhere.
Jim heard two phaser shots as the alien behind him and the one next to him fell. The one who had just stabbed him turned around, sliding the blade out of Jim's chestal area. He let out a short yell, closing his eyes in agony as his wound touched fresh air. He heard one last thud, causing him to open his eyes marginally and look up at the figure standing right in front of him.
Jim melted into the deep brown eyes that met his, full of worry and panic. His eyes always fail him, Jim thought.
"Captain? Jim, are you alright?" Spock bent down in front of him and gently lowered the cloth off his mouth. Jim laughed lightly, cringing as his open stab wound cried out at the inner movement.
"Well, besides the gaping hole in my chest, I'd say I'm fine." Jim chuckled, coughing lightly from the action. Now that he knew he was in safe hands, his hidden exhaustion came crashing over him like a damn hurricane. Spock had opened his mouth to respond but was promptly shoved out of the way as Jim was now suddenly facing two pairs of frustrated eyes.
"God damnit, Jim! You're such a damn idiot!" Bones growled, turning to Spock as he dug out his tricorder. "Go make yourself useful and untie the man, would ya?!" As Bones scanned almost every part of his body, Jim felt gentle hands slowly unraveling his wrists. He let out a deep groan once they were free, welcoming the rush of blood back into his numb fingers.
"I... I didn't get a paper cut, Bones..." Jim murmured quietly, hearing the doctor scoff in front of him. The doctor nudged Spock's arm, who was crouched in front of Jim's legs now.
"Did you hear that? He didn't get a paper cut! Well, Hallelujah!" Bones whipped out a few hyposprays, but Jim didn't stay awake long enough to feel his friend use them. He finally let his head hang in front of him, closing his eyes as he welcomed sleep like an old friend.
Waking up in Sickbay wasn't even a surprise anymore. Honestly, Jim kind of expected to wake up there whenever he fell asleep or lost consciousness. Bones always told him that he might as well have his own damn room, considering the number of times Jim had taken residence in the place.
So, when Jim finally came back around and his nostrils were hit with the sterile scents of the medbay, he wasn't surprised at all.
He let out a soft moan, straightening his head to be center on the pillow before opening his eyes. He blinked a few times before becoming aware of the figure standing right beside him, bent over reading his vitals. Jim sluggishly turned his head, letting a small grin appear on his face at how the lights practically made a halo around McCoy's head. The doctor almost looked angelic.
"My guardian angel..." Jim murmured, feeling how raspy his throat was due to the lack of hydration he had had in the past few hours. At the sound of his voice, he saw McCoy look over at him, setting down the PADD he held in his hands as he scoffed.
"You bet your sweet ass, I am." Bones grumbled, crossing his arms as he looked up at Jim's vitals above his head. "How ya feeling, kid? You were pretty beat up when we found you back there. Nothing I couldn't fix, of course."
Jim chuckled again, closing his eyes as he took in the current state of his body. His arms were sore and his leg that got shot with the arrow felt a little numb but other than that, he actually felt fine. Actually, come to think of it, his chest felt oddly stiff and throbbed slightly, which was weird since-
Oh. Right. He was stabbed.
Jim glanced down at his chest, noticing how he was currently shirtless but had a hoard of bandages wrapped around his chest. Apparently, his surprised expression caught McCoy's attention.
"Yeah, that stab wound went pretty deep. Just a few more inches over and it would have punctured your lung and probably damaged an important artery. However, nothing major got penetrated, so don't worry." Bones smiled, picking up his PADD from the table. "As much as I am pissed that you landed yourself in my sickbay yet again, I'm glad you're okay. And there's someone else who is going to be happy you're awake once I contact him. The stupid hobgoblin has been calling down to check on your status almost every five minutes since the surgery ended. He's one persistent son of a bitch." Bones grumbled before leaving the room and heading into his office.
Jim's heart fluttered in his chest awkwardly. Spock had been calling down every five minutes? Sure, it wasn't uncommon for a First Officer to check in on the status of their captain when they were injured, but for them to check in so frequently? And for a Vulcan to check-in that frequently, knowing full well how illogical that is? It's very human of him. And the cherry on top was that it gave Jim just the slightest amount of hope.
Maybe Spock really did care about him...
Jim decided to rest his eyes for a couple of minutes while he waited for Spock to come down. He wasn't able to keep them closed for long before he heard the swish of the automatic doors to his right. He didn't open his eyes immediately but instead listened to the soft footsteps nearing his biobed. Once they stopped, Jim opened his eyes and blinked. Spock stood next to his biobed, his hands together at the small of his back.
"Captain," Spock stated blankly.
"Commander," Jim responded in a teasing manner.
"I am glad to see you awake and well." Jim could tell that Spock was nervous as he spoke. His eyes kept darting to Jim's chest, and he could tell by the straining muscles in Spock's lower arms that he was flexing his fingers repeatedly behind his back.
"Yeah, me too." Jim smiled, glancing down at his chest. "I guess I'm pretty lucky you guys arrived when you did. You saved my life, yet again." Jim's eyes traveled up to Spock's. "Thanks."
"Thanks is illogical as I was only performing the duties of an efficient First Officer."
"So, you're telling me you wouldn't have saved me if you weren't my First Officer?"
"... I never said that, Captain." Spock quirked an eyebrow at him, causing Jim to bite back a laugh. He always looked so cute when he did the famous Vulcan eyebrow raise.
"No, of course not." Jim chuckled. Spock was still continuously glancing down at Jim's chest bandage, which made Jim's heart clench and warm at the same time. "Hey, I'm okay. Bones said it didn't go that deep. Besides feeling uncomfortable and sore, I'm completely fine." Jim reassured his friend, watching as Spock's eyes flickered down to the ground now.
"I am quite relieved to hear that. I must admit, I am not particularly fond of the position of acting captain. I would appreciate it if you would defer from promoting me to such a position in the future." Spock said quietly, making Jim laugh a little.
"Is that your way of saying 'stop doing stupid shit and making me clean it up?'"
"Negative. It is simply me informing you that I would much rather stay as your First Officer instead of acting Captain. I also would like to state that I did warn you of such hostilities-"
"Spock, you don't have to give me the 'I told you so'. Believe me, I know." Jim grinned, "I could have really used my First Officer down there."
"Indeed."
The conversation seemed to die after that, leaving the two awkwardly staring at each other. Jim could tell there was something more Spock wanted to say, but he was obviously hesitating. It was kind of cute; watching Spock's eyes shift from emotion to emotion as he contemplated on whether or not he should continue the conversation with whatever was bothering him. However, in the end, Spock remained silent.
And it was actually Doctor McCoy who finally broke the strange silent staring that was happening between them.
"Jesus, get a room you two. I can't have you guys eye-fucking each other in my damn sickbay." Bones scowled, waving at Spock to leave. The Vulcan's eyebrows furrowed as he stepped back.
"Doctor, I assure you our eyes are not and can not engage in sexual intercourse."
"Just stop crowding my sickbay and get out. Jim needs rest anyway, and you can leave me alone now that you've seen Jim is alive and awake." Bones shooed the confused Vulcan out of the room, scowling as the doors shut between him and Spock. With a huff, Bones turned back around and walked over to Jim, giving his vitals one last scan.
"Alright, you need rest. I can maybe have you out of here in a few days as long as you get rest and remain immobile, got it?" When Jim nodded, Bones turned on his heel to go into his office.
However, he stopped short and looked over his shoulder with a semi-smug smile. "And just so you know, the hobgoblin is single."